According to a study done by the University of Westminster and MusicTank of musicians, 68.5% of 2,211 said they have experienced depression, and 71.1% said they had experienced severe anxiety or panic attacks. These results show that musicians are 3 times more susceptible to depression than the average person.
Rather, the high-pressure and hectic lifestyles of many artists may lead to depressive symptoms, as tight deadlines, high expectations, fierce criticism, and intense travel are common for such individuals.
Summary: Musicians and musically active people tend to have a higher genetic risk factor for bipolar disorder and depression, a new study reports. Intuitively, people commonly believe that making music is good for their mental health. Music therapies also rely on a positive influence of music on mental health problems.
Anti-social working hours, touring schedules and an 'always on' mentality driven by oversupply of music and lack of boundaries also lead to musicians struggling to know when to stop working, resulting in isolation and a lack of meaningful relationships.
One of the most stressful aspects of a music career is the constant pressure to perform at a high level. Musicians are often expected to give flawless performances, night after night. This can be very difficult to achieve, and the pressure to always be at the top of your game can be very stressful.
Singing is partly innate, and partly a learnt skill. You can be born with vocal tracts that are physiologically sized and shaped to give your voice a more pleasing sound, naturally pathing the way to becoming a singer. But controlling and configuring your vocal muscles in order to sing well is a learnt skill.
The unforeseen health risks for singers can be hemorrhaging of the vocal cords, which can cause permanent and irreversible damage. “Vocal nodes or scarring of the tissue can result in losing your ability to sing past the first bridge or not at all if left untreated,” said Gonzales.
Like the rest of your body, your vocal cords slowly change and age over the course of your life. As you get older, the fibres in your vocal folds become stiffer and thinner and your larynx cartilage becomes harder. This limits the voice and is why elderly people's voices can sound “wobbly” or “breathier”.
The artist personality types have strong feelings about 'what's right', personal values and strive to consistently meet the expectations they set for ourselves; often these expectations are high and unattainable which can make artists frustrated or depressed.
Emotional/Psychological
Singing lowers cortisol and relieves stress and tension. Studies have shown that when people sing, endorphins and oxytocin are released by the brain which in turn lowers stress and anxiety levels.
In the case of unipolar or major depression, the population rate is about 5% but the rate among artists and writers in the various studies between 15% and 50%.
Adele and Alanis Morissette, for example, have shared their experiences with postpartum depression. Billie Eilish has opened up about how fame led to depression and suicidal ideation, while Bebe Rexha and Halsey have shared their bioplar disorder diagnoses.
EMST results revealed that MDD people had a stronger preference for both low energy and sad music, relative to HC. The strong appeal of sad music to people with MDD may be related to its calming effects rather than any desire to increase or maintain sad feelings.
Shyness and creativity often go hand in hand. The brooding musician, reclusive writer and antisocial genius are stereotypical creative types. There is inevitably a common connection between the deep feeling and introspection that leads to great art and the sensitivity that manifests itself as social anxiety.
Whenever you feel nervous, focus on your breath and the rising and falling of your belly. This has a calming effect that will eliminate the nervousness and let you focus on your singing. It also helps to do breathing exercises before you get on the stage. Simply take a few deep breaths and let them out slowly.
It Supports Emotional Resolution
Queuing up a more somber playlist can serve as a form of catharsis allowing you to wallow in your sadness, truly feel the depths of the emotion, and then be able to release it.
Some experts, such as Johns Hopkins University psychiatry professor Kay Redfield Jamison, find strong evidence that mood disorders, such as depression and bipolarism, are more prevalent among artists and writers than in the general population.
They are highly considerate and accepting, committed to their values and to the people who are important to them. What is this? ISFPs are sometimes referred to as “the Artist,” “the Composer,” or “the Adventurer.” ISFP is the opposite personality type of ENTJ. ISFP is the fourth most common type in the population.
Singers' voices mature anywhere from their 20s to the early 40s, and, in general, voices that are deeper and heavier in tone take longer to develop fully. Coloraturas, or sopranos with light voices, typically reach their peaks earliest, in the mid-20s.
As far as singing into your golden years: certain singers in their 60s and 70s and 80s still sound great, while others tend to “lose it,” often because of over-use of the voice or perhaps a lack of a great foundation of good vocal technique to begin with.
Vocal abuse, misuse, and overuse all can lead to strain and fatigue. If these behaviors do not change, individuals may experience serious vocal damage or even a voice disorder.
Foods to avoid include foods with high fat content, like fried or greasy foods, eggs, butter and other dairy products; and acidic meals like spicy foods, peppers, concentrated tomato dishes, vinegar, and citrus fruits. It's almost impossible to sing well while burping.
Despite all the rumors you've heard about “natural talent,” all singers who want to build a career at any level spend a lot of time developing their voice. It's okay to be unskilled. Everyone starts somewhere. You can become a better singer with the right coaching, guidance, and practice.
Even if you have a “bad” singing voice in the beginning, the truth is your voice is perfectly fine, and that once you understand the basics and learn good techniques, once you get out of your own head, and once you establish good practice routines, you'll become a much better singer, and you'll appreciate the ...